This set of free printable paper dolls brings together twenty two lively women in their sixties and seventies, half of them elbow deep in the vegetable garden and half out on a big shopping day. Every lady has her own outfit, her own funny moment and her own expression, so each sheet reads as a tiny story on its own.
Print any of them for handmade cards, gift tags or a junk journal spread, and let the ladies do the talking: no two outfits or props repeat. Print on matte cardstock at actual size, then cut each doll out with a thin white edge left showing around the lines.
Using these images: free for personal projects such as printing, coloring, cards, journals and gifts. Handmade items that include them may be sold up to 30 pieces per design. More than that is commercial use and is not permitted, and neither is selling or sharing the images themselves or passing them off as your own. Please ask before any other use.
In the Vegetable Garden
Big straw sun hat tilted back and floral overalls streaked with garden dirt, she holds her giant red tomato aloft like a trophy, grinning ear to ear. This one makes a perfect card for the friend who has been bragging about her garden all summer.
Write something like “nobody puts my tomato in the shade” across the bottom, or leave the space blank for your own line. Mount her on foam dots so the tomato lifts slightly off the page.
Standing in tall rubber boots and a gingham shirt, she stares wide eyed at a zucchini grown as long as her own arm, utterly shocked by what her garden produced overnight.
White bun pinned neatly and a practical garden smock over her dress, she raises a trowel with a frown that could stop a rabbit mid raid on the lettuce.
Pair her with the giant tomato lady for a two doll card about who really runs the garden, one triumphant and one furious. Glue her onto a popsicle stick so she can be propped up inside a card and lifted out to stand on a windowsill.
Laughing helplessly in a pink sun visor and cropped capri pants, she has managed to wind a green garden hose completely around her own legs while watering the beans.
Eyes closed and chin lifted, she buries her face in an armful of peonies in her rose print dress, lost completely in the scent for just one quiet moment.
Tuck her into a sympathy or get well card where a softer mood suits better than a joke. She also anchors a garden themed journal page beautifully, especially next to pressed petals or a scrap of the same rose print fabric.
Chin up and shoulders back in her quilted gardening vest, she carries a basket piled high with fresh carrots, tops and all, clearly pleased with the morning’s haul.
Tall and caught red-handed mid snip in her polka dot head scarf, she giggles over a stolen rose cutting tucked behind her ear like she already knows she should not.
She works well as the five minute version of this set: print small, skip the hands and feet detail, and use just the head and shoulders on a round gift tag punched to size for a plant swap or garden club gift.
Muddy knee pads and a striped shirt tell the story before the radish does, and she holds up her single small prize with exhausted, beaming satisfaction after a long morning of weeding.
Blooms and Mischief
What to Do Next
Pick two or three favorites to start, print them on matte cardstock, and let one lady anchor your next card while another heads straight into the junk journal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What paper works best for these paper dolls?
Matte cardstock works best because it holds color without glare and cuts cleanly along fine lines. Avoid glossy photo paper, which can crack along folds and makes scissors slip.
What printer settings give the sharpest result?
Set the printer to actual size or 100 percent, never fit to page, and choose the highest quality or photo setting available. This keeps every doll true to the printed sheet size and keeps linework crisp.
How do you cut out small details like hands and hose loops?
Cut the main outline first with small detail scissors, then work slowly around thin areas such as fingers, hose loops or hat brims. A craft knife on a cutting mat helps with tight inside corners a scissor blade cannot reach.
How do you make a paper doll stand up on a shelf or card?
Glue the printed doll onto a craft stick or a folded cardstock tab at the back, then trim the extra stick below her feet. This lets her stand upright inside a card or prop against a journal page.
Can these paper dolls pop up off the page?
Yes, foam adhesive dots raised just under the arms or a held object give an easy 3D lift. Layer two or three dots under a shopping bag or a tomato for the strongest pop up effect.